Michael Olise is one of Karl-Heinz Rummenigge's favourite players ever, with the Bayern Munich sensation paired with club legends Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery and Luca Toni. Olise has become among the best players in the world since his sensational switch from Crystal Palace to Bavaria in 2024. A phenomenal debut season at the Allianz Arena was rewarded with a Ballon d'Or nomination this year.
Olise on course to become a Bayern Munich legend
Since his £52 million (€60m/$70m) move from Crystal Palace to Bayern in the summer of 2024, Olise has quickly established himself as one of the Bundesliga's standout performers. In tough moments, he's become a key player for Bayern, alongside Harry Kane, proving to be a reliable go-to figure in crucial situations. The Frenchman hit double figures for both goals and assists in the Bundesliga as Bayern snatched the domestic throne back from Bayer Leverkusen.
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Rummenigge pairs Olise with Robben and Ribery
Speaking to , Rummenigge was asked which players he has liked the most. The iconic former striker said: "The attackers are the salt in the soup, as we say. Especially the wingers, like Ribery, Robben, and now Olise. And the centre-forwards. Even Luca Toni. He wasn't really convinced about coming to Bayern."
A look at Olise's numbers for Bayern
The 23-year-old has played 62 games for Die Roten and has already brought up a half-century of direct goal contributions. With 24 goals and 26 assists since his arrival at the Allianz Arena, no other player bar Kane has had as many direct goal involvements from Germany's top-flight across all competitions.
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A move to Liverpool on the cards?
Olise's exploits for Bayern have earned him a status as one of the best attackers in the world at the moment. His dominant displays and terrific returns saw him earn a nomination for the 2025 Ballon d'Or. However, despite just arriving over a year ago, question marks over the former Palace winger's future at Sabener Street have started to linger. There have been reports suggesting that Bayern inserted an exit clause in his five-year contract, with the clause becoming active next summer. Liverpool have been heavily linked with Olise, with the Premier League champions reportedly looking at the French star as a potential successor to Mohamed Salah.
Glasgow Rangers have made a big decision regarding the future of manager Russell Martin, following an uninspiring start to his time at Ibrox.
Martin already under huge pressure at Rangers
The Englishman arrived as the Gers’ new boss in the summer, but he has struggled badly so far, drawing his opening two Scottish Premiership matches.
Things got even worse for Martin earlier this week, however, with Rangers’ 3-1 defeat at home to Club Brugge leaving them on the cusp of Champions League elimination. Speaking after the game, the 39-year-old tried to be positive.
“I understand the intensity and emotion here but it can’t change the way we work and become a weight around the players necks. There has been fragility in this club for a long, long time. The club has bounced around different plans and its been hinged on emotions. Now we have owners that understand where the club has been, where’s it at, and where’s it going.
Rangers managerRussellMartinapplauds fans after the match
“I came to this club knowing it wasn’t going to be easy or a quick fix. I hope we’ll be judged in May and by then we’ll be in a really good place and winning stuff.”There are loads for us to be excited about moving forward. We have to go next week and really attack it.”
Despite Martin doing his best to quieten the dissenting voices, there are some Rangers fans who already want him sacked, and there has now been an update on his future.
No "knee jerk" reactions in Rangers boardroom
Speaking to Football Insider, journalist Pete O’Rourke claimed that Martin’s job as Rangers manager is safe for now, but improvements are clearly needed.
“There’s always pressure when you’re at a huge club like Rangers. Pressure will only continue to build, especially if they have more performances like against Club Brugge in that opening 20 minutes. It was really embarrassing from a Rangers perspective that game.
“It’s been a difficult start to his tenure at Ibrox for Russell Martin. They’ve dropped points in the league. They’re already four points behind Celtic. And if they were to crash out of the Champions League before the league stage as well, that’d be a huge blow to the club’s ambitions and also to the club’s finances as well.
“So look, the pressure is on Russell Martin to deliver. From what I’m told there won’t be any knee-jerk reactions from the Rangers board just yet. They’ve obviously got faith in Russell Martin, I don’t think there’s a massive pressure from the board.”
In fairness to Martin, this is probably the best decision for now, considering how little time he has been in charge, as he looks to adjust to his new surroundings and get his tactical demands across to his squad.
That said, drastic improvements are needed very quickly, or he will find himself out of the job, starting with Sunday’s trip to St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership.
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More dropped points there for Rangers would feel disastrous, considering they are already four points adrift of Celtic, with their rivals likely to be seven clear by the time Sunday’s game kicks off, assuming they win at home to Livingston on Saturday.
Manchester United’s forward line has had somewhat of an overhaul during the summer transfer window, unsurprisingly so given their lack of goals in 2024/25.
The Red Devils only managed a tally of 44 goals in the Premier League, an average of 1.15 goals per 90 – a tally no way near good enough for a side of their stature.
Ruben Amorim has taken measures to improve such a situation, securing the signatures of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha – with the pair setting the hierarchy back over £130m.
Manchester United manager RubenAmorimbefore the match
The pair netted 35 top-flight goals between them last season, potentially forming a deadly partnership with soon-to-be new addition Benjamin Sesko, who has agreed a £74m deal with the club in recent days.
There’s no denying that the trio could cause many sides endless troubles throughout 2025/26, with other areas of the pitch needing similar investment between now and the end of the window.
The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer
Carlos Baleba has emerged as a shock option for United in the midfield department, with the Brighton star’s agents in talks with the Red Devils over a move to Old Trafford.
The 21-year-old could well be out of the club’s price range this summer, with Fabian Hurzeler’s side slapping a £100m price tag on his head to fend off any interest in his services.
However, the middle of the park isn’t the only area which could also be strengthened, with United making a move to land Fiorentina centre-back Pietro Comuzzo, according to Firenzeviola.
They claim that Amorim’s side have been spotted scouting the 20-year-old during pre-season, with the club able to get a closer look at the talent in the clash against the Italian outfit this weekend.
The report also states that Sunderland and Bournemouth have also been keeping a close eye on his progress, but any deal could cost any interested party a fee in the region of €40m (£35m).
Why United’s £35m target could be their next Yoro
Leny Yoro was a huge addition to the United squad last summer, joining the club in a staggering £59m in a move to bolster the side in the immediate and long-term future.
The Frenchman had to bide his time during the early stages of the 2024/25 season, but after Amorim’s arrival, he cemented his place in the side and demonstrated signs of being a great buy from INEOS.
He managed to register a total of 33 appearances across all competitions, scoring his first goal against Lyon in the Europa League – helping the side secure their place in the final.
Yoro also ended his debut year at Old Trafford with a tally of 1.7 aerials won per 90, along with a 93% pass completion rate – showcasing his superb ability to be a ball-playing option in the club’s backline.
However, a move for current target Comuzzo could see them land another young, talented defender, with the Italian producing numerous top-tier stats despite his tender age of just 20 years.
When comparing his stats to those of Yoro from the 2024/25 campaign, the Italian managed to outperform him in numerous key areas, showcasing how he can follow in the teenager’s footsteps at Old Trafford.
Comuzzo, who’s been labelled “incredible” by former boss Raffaele Palladino, made more key passes per 90 last season, showcasing his excellent ability to pick out a teammate in possession.
How Comuzzo & Yoro compare throughout 2024/25
Statistics (per 90)
Comuzzo
Yoro
Games played
33
21
Minutes played
2200
1165
Key passes made
0.4
0.1
Tackles won
0.9
0.8
Blocks made
1.4
0.3
Clearances made
4.6
3.3
% of tackles won
79%
68%
Aerials won
2.6
1.2
Aerial success rate
59%
50%
Stats via FBref
He also managed to win more of the tackles he entered last season, whilst making more blocks and clearances per 90, handing Amorim the added defensive talent he needs ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
The 20-year-old’s dominance is further reflected in his tally of aerials won per 90, potentially offering the side an added threat at both ends of the pitch – something which has been greatly lacking in recent months.
Whilst competition for his signature is fierce, the club are building an exciting project which any young player may prove to be tempted by in the near future.
£35m for a player of his calibre could prove to be excellent business, potentially seeing Comuzzo strike an excellent partnership with fellow youngster Yoro in the years ahead.
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Manchester United could be about to land another big-money talent for Ruben Amorim.
England will field a three-pronged spin attack on a Rawalpindi pitch that Harry Brook believes has been “raked” by local groundstaff in an attempt to bring Pakistan’s spinners into play. Rehan Ahmed has been recalled and will play alongside Shoaib Bashir and Jack Leach, with Gus Atkinson also coming into a side in which both Brydon Carse and Matthew Potts miss out.Rehan played three Tests in India at the start of this year but has not featured for England in any format since February. But England believe they will need him as a third spin frontline option this week, with Pakistan going to extreme lengths in an attempt to dry out the pitch in Rawalpindi after their 152-run victory on a recycled strip in Multan.”They’ve had the rakes out, the fans and the heaters on the pitch,” Brook said. “Everyone goes and looks at the wicket and says something different… Hopefully, it’s just like any other Pakistani pitch. It’s good to bat on for the first few days and then hopefully, we can get a bit of turn out of it at the back end of the game.”England XI for third Test vs Pakistan•ESPNcricinfo Ltd
The move is a risk, leaving Atkinson and Ben Stokes as England’s only two fast-bowling options at a venue that has historically suited seam over spin. But it has also been among the world’s best for batting since its return to staging Tests in 2019, as England demonstrated when racking up 657 in 101 overs in their famous win here two years ago.”I think the conditions are going to be a little bit different,” Brook said. “We played on an extremely flat pitch here last time. It was awesome to bat on, and we scored a good rate of knots. This game’s probably going to be slightly different. It might turn earlier on: who knows? It might be a good pitch to start with and we get off to a flyer.”The lush square at Rawalpindi may have informed England’s selection, with reverse-swing unlikely to be a major factor this week. In Multan, the strips either side of the Test pitch were cut short and were dry and abrasive by the second Test, enabling England’s seamers to reverse the old ball. This week, there are only three strips cut across the square: the Test pitch and two practice pitches.Brook was out for 9 and 16 to Pakistan’s spinners in the second Test, and predicted Sajid Khan and Noman Ali will play “a massive part” in Rawalpindi. “I’ve spoken to a few of the lads about gameplans and how we’re going to go about it,” he said. “Hopefully, it pays off and I play a big part in the game.”Related
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Stokes and England braced for Pindi spin-quisition
It was in Pakistan two years ago that Rehan made his international debut as an 18-year-old, taking 5 for 48 in the second innings in Karachi to set up England’s eight-wicket win, which clinched a 3-0 clean sweep. His progress has not been linear since and he was expensive in India earlier this year, taking 11 wickets at 44.00 across three appearances and conceding more than four runs per over.This summer, Rehan was outperformed by his offspinning younger brother Farhan in the County Championship and his returns fell away in white-ball cricket: he was dropped by Southern Brave early in the Hundred after two expensive outings, and was then left out of England’s T20I and ODI squads against Australia in September.But England have been long-term admirers: Rehan was famously a net bowler at the age of 11 and has been in the national set-up throughout his professional career, starting at Under-19s level. He is heading into the second year of a two-year central contract, and has also worked on his batting this summer, with four Championship fifties, and will bolster England’s lower order from No. 9.Carse and Potts are both officially rested, with Atkinson returning after taking match figures of 4 for 145 in England’s innings win in the first Test. Carse has been England’s outstanding bowler of the tour, taking nine wickets at 24.33 across his first two appearances, but has bowled 67 overs in the series and has played back-to-back Tests.England: 1 Zak Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope, 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Ben Stokes (capt), 7 Jamie Smith (wk), 8 Gus Atkinson, 9 Rehan Ahmed, 10 Jack Leach, 11 Shoaib Bashir.
It wasn’t exactly a well-kept secret this summer that Birmingham City were interested in landing Peterborough United superstar Kwame Poku.
Unfortunately, the Blues’ drawn-out pursuit of the entertaining Ghanaian has seemingly gone cold now, as the likes of Russell Martin’s Rangers accelerate to the front of the queue for his coveted services instead.
Kwame Poku for Peteborough.
This would have been a knock to Chris Davies and Co.’s confidence as they navigate up to the Championship, but it hasn’t stopped them from pressing on with other attacking targets, as the ambitious Blues look to close in on another statement addition up top.
Birmingham close in on statement reunion
As per a recent report from journalist Alan Nixon, the newly promoted outfit look to be edging ever closer to bringing former star Demarai Gray back to their ranks this summer.
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Much like their chase for Poku, it had been well publicised that the Blues wanted to make such a stunning reunion happen.
Now, it might well become a reality, with both Sunderland and Fiorentina, who had also been looking at signing the experienced Jamaica international in an £8m deal, left in Birmingham’s dust to seal the sublime move.
Whilst the Rangers-bound attacker had been viewed as the flavour of the month in the EFL after a sensational season on the books of Posh, landing Gray might well be an even more exciting pick-up than the 23-year-old.
Why Gray would be a more exciting signing than Poku
If Birmingham are deadly serious about going after back-to-back promotions, Gray joining will undoubtedly help them to pull off such an arduous feat, with the former Blues prodigy going on to have a lengthy career at the very top after waving St. Andrew’s goodbye in 2016.
Indeed, Gray is likely more well-known in English football now for being a Premier League regular on the books of Leicester City and Everton, than a one-time academy product emerging up the Blues ranks.
In total, the Birmingham-born forward has amassed over 200 Premier League appearances for the likes of the Foxes and the Toffees, with an impressive 19 goals and 14 assists coming his way from those contests, on top of a Premier League title astoundingly being lifted when situated at the King Power Stadium.
Leicester
169
13
14
Birmingham
78
8
4
Everton
75
12
6
Al-Ettifaq
50
4
5
Bayer Leverkusen
12
1
2
Poku might well have a certain level of freshness on his side – considering he has just tallied up a blistering 12 goals and 11 assists for Darren Ferguson’s men last campaign – but the table above really does speak for itself when judging the 28-year-old’s pedigree alone, with a season even under his belt in the Bundesliga when lining up for Bayer Leverkusen.
Moreover, whilst Poku was a breakout success for Posh last season, he has never actually bagged a goal in the Championship, despite ripping up the third-tier, with just a meagre two goal contributions next to his name at the difficult level from 20 clashes.
An “electric” attacker on his day – in the words of journalist Scott Saunders – his first major steps in the senior game did actually come in the Championship with his hometown club, notably netting a memorable hat-trick above three of the eight strikes he has managed in the division when donning Birmingham blue.
It will now be up to Gray to roll back the years on his expected return, with more Premier League appearances perhaps coming his way down the line.
Whilst Poku is the talk of the town as an up-and-coming ace, Gray has already cemented himself as a Championship-capable talent and beyond across his vast playing days, with another chapter soon to be added to his packed story when hopefully starring for Davies and Co.
Birmingham want to sign "fantastic" £8m ace who scored in St Andrew's win
Chelsea have already been one of the busiest Premier League sides in terms of transfer activity, and they’re fully expected to carry on this trend in the background of their looming Club World Cup campaign.
Chelsea miss out on Mike Maignan and Jamie Gittens
The west Londoners were attempting to get both AC Milan keeper Mike Maignan and Borussia Dortmund sensation Jamie Gittens finalised before Tuesday’s 7pm mini-window deadline, but neither deal could be done.
Chelsea are in ongoing talks with Neymar-like forward – Sky journalist
The west Londoners are still working beyond the Club World Cup transfer deadline.
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Emilio Galantini
Jun 11, 2025
Chelsea had three bids rejected for Gittens in the space of a few days, with Enzo Maresca’s side never coming close to Borussia Dortmund’s valuation. Their highest offer came in at around £47 million, but even that wasn’t enough to convince the Bundesliga, who played hard-ball over their most sellable asset.
Chelsea’s determination to remain steadfast in negotiations and not pay over the odds was also prevalent in their discussions with Milan over a deal for Maignan. After failing to find middle ground on the France international’s price tag, Chelsea pulled out of that deal too, regardless of Maignan’s eagerness to join the Blues.
AC Milan's MikeMaignanreacts
“Chelseawere trying to sign Maignan, but they were always insistent they did not think he was worth more than £12.7m,” said Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol.
“The player himself was desperate to move to Chelsea, he is 30 in July, is out of contract next summer and told Milan he will not sign a new deal. However, Milan said we will not let him leave for the figure Chelsea wanted.”
While both Maignan and Gittens are off the table, at least for now, it is believed that Chelsea remain in talks with Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitike (Florian Plettenberg). It is also worth noting that Chelsea can still register new players during the Club World Cup, thanks to a unique registration period which will become active from June 27 to July 3 – when the group stages conclude.
Chelsea to terminate Axel Disasi contract as Juventus make contact
Given Chelsea’s extensive plans to strengthen throughout the squad, players will need to make way, with BlueCo also rumoured to be targeting a centre-back.
Player sales will be crucial for them this summer, as Chelsea look to trim the wage bill and generate funds for their recruitment strategy both in the coming weeks and later in the window.
According to Italian news site Tutto Juve, as translated by Sport Witness, Chelsea defender Axel Disasi is attracting interest from Serie A heavyweights Juventus.
Disasi
Disasi has been regularly linked with a Stamford Bridge exit, with Tutto Juve even reporting that both the Frenchman and Chelsea are to mutually agree a contract termination to facilitate his move away.
Juve have made contact to enquire about Disasi’s situation, and could be buoyed by the prospect of signing the 27-year-old on a free transfer.
They’re also attracted by his versatility, given he can play both right-back and as a centre-half. Disasi doesn’t appear part of Maresca’s long-term plans, having just spent the second half of 2024/2025 on loan at Aston Villa.
Disasi has been lauded as a “complete” defender by pundits, but the potential signing of another centre-back would only push him further down the pecking order.
Liverpool opened their eyes to a new way of life last summer, with Arne Slot replacing Jurgen Klopp in the hot seat, tasked with driving a new era toward titles.
Well, he’s proven himself the perfect pick – and then some. Slot’s dominance in the Premier League this term has been as such that Liverpool have been sighted across Easterly holiday destinations this week, partying ahead of Sunday’s fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion at the AMEX.
It’s been almost three weeks since Virgil van Dijk led the celebrations following the 5-1 thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur, almost three weeks since Liverpool put themselves back on their perch and levelled with Manchester United as England’s most successful top-flight club.
1.
Liverpool
20
2.
Man United
20
3.
Arsenal
13
4.
Man City
10
5.
Everton
9
Now that the top place on the podium has been secured, FSG need to back Slot in the transfer market and strengthen ahead of next year’s title defence. One of the biggest names around is already being lined up.
The latest on Liverpool's pursuit of Florian Wirtz
When David Ornstein speaks on a transfer rumour, it usually means such chatter has a concrete foundation. The Athletic correspondent has confirmed Liverpool have made contact with Florian Wirtz’s representatives as the fight for the in-demand playmaker heats up.
Wirtz is anticipated to leave Bayer Leverkusen this season and reports from Germany have sought to tilt the narrative toward Bayern Munich, and while the nation’s restored champions remain favourites at this stage, it’s thought that negotiations are not so advanced as has hitherto been believed.
Of course, Manchester City also reported have a vested interest and have met with the 22-year-old to discuss a potential summer move. Pep Guardiola needs a successor in the shape of Kevin De Bruyne, and they have the financial means to secure the £126m-rated superstar.
Having plundered 69 goal contributions across the past two campaigns for Die Werkself, Wirtz is clearly of the elite class. However, he’s not the only attacking player Liverpool need to sign. In fact, with Darwin Nunez expected to depart, signing a new centre-forward may be even more important.
Liverpool chasing new forward
According to The Telegraph’s Sam Dean, Liverpool have registered their interest in Brighton forward Joao Pedro, though they face stiff competition from Arsenal and Chelsea.
The Seagulls star has been a prolific success on the south coast over the past two years, signing from Watford in June 2023 for just shy of £30m.
Brighton striker Joao Pedro
Reports from earlier in the season suggested the Reds would need to fork out a record-breaking £100m fee to sign the Brazilian, and it goes without saying that sporting director Richard Hughes will be tasked with whittling that figure down, should interest form something more substantial.
How Pedro would fit in alongside Wirtz
Joao Pedro has scored 18 penalties for Brighton, a considerable chunk of his 30-strike haul across 70 appearances for his blue-and-white outfit.
Still, he’s a talented and dynamic striker with a combative approach which could see him slot right in on Merseyside as Nunez’s successor.
As per FBref, the top 9% for assists and shot-creating actions, the top 8% for passes attempted, the top 6% for progressive passes, the top 4% for progressive carries and the top 10% for successful take-ons per 90.
Sure, he could do more in front of goal, but the 23-year-old has a certain completeness that Slot could make good use of, especially with Wirtz installed into the playmaking spot behind him.
Liverpool are all about data, and they have clearly been coloured impressed by the underlying metrics. Given that journalist Gerard Struber has hailed Wirtz for his “world-class” playmaking skills, it feels like he could be the man to take Joao Pedro to the next level.
Indeed, the German international has created 17 big chances in the Bundesliga this season, starting only 24 matches. He’s also averaged 1.9 key passes, 2.7 dribbles and 5.3 successful duels per fixture, as per Sofascore, underscoring not just creative pedigree but boundless energy and high-level athleticism too.
Could Joao Pedro wish for a better supplier behind him, threading a constant source of support with artful flair and mechanical efficiency?
Brighton & Hove Albion'sJoaoPedroin action with Manchester City's Ruben Dias and Abdukodir Khusanov
The dynamic forward, who plays slightly from the left, arcing right so too maximise his shooting potential, has actually only missed 16 big chances in the Premier League across his two campaigns for Brighton too, as per Sofascore, scoring 19 goals.
This is a curious metric, one which reveals a natural clinical sense, if also a map for improvement in finding golden opportunities to score.
Mind, Slot has already demonstrated his ability to take interesting up-and-coming profiles and shape them into something special. Joao Pedro’s natural-born accuracy differentiates him from Nunez, and with Wirtz there, threading surgical passes from every which way, he has everything he needs to maximise his potential at Anfield, a veritable hothouse for player development.
Liverpool manager ArneSlotcelebrates after winning the Premier League
The South American forward has already been hailed for his “really magical” ability on the ball by Bundesliga commentator Kevin Hatchard, and he now just needs to marry the floating elements of his skill set into a coherent whole. He needs to join Liverpool and hit the top of the ceiling.
Liverpool have put themselves back on the map as one of the continent’s most fearsome outfits, and if FSG can get it right in the market this summer, Slot could create a dynasty to connect up with Klopp’s.
With Wirtz and Joao Pedro in the mix, Slot could surely consolidate his Liverpool side’s position at the top of the table and move for greater riches, an embarrassment of riches, eclipsing Arsenal and Manchester City and all the rest and striking fear into the hearts of the club’s opposition.
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Tottenham Hotspur travel to face Liverpool at Anfield this afternoon, with Arne Slot’s side needing just a single point to secure the Premier League title.
Ange Postecoglou’s men will be looking to put a dent in their title ambitions, looking to pick up some momentum ahead of Thursday’s Europa League semi-final first leg against Bodo Glimt.
Given the lowly league standing in 2024/25, there’s no denying that all the attention will be on European football, with the competition giving the side a great chance to end the year with a trophy.
Such dismal form has led to questions being asked about the future of the Aussie in North London, with a triumph in Europe certainly bolstering his chances of remaining in charge next season.
However, if he wants to claim an unlikely win over Slot’s men this afternoon, he desperately needs to drop one player from his starting eleven after his showing against Nottingham Forest on Monday.
Why Ange needs to drop Sarr against Liverpool
Midfielder Pape Matar Sarr was recalled to the starting eleven against Forest, but failed to take advantage of the opportunity handed his way by Postecoglou.
The Senegalese international featured for 81 minutes of the defeat in North London before being replaced by youngster Lucas Bergvall – deservedly so after his own showing.
Pape Matar Sarr scores for Tottenham
He failed to complete any of the three crosses he attempted against Nuno Espírito Santo’s side, whilst failing to win a single tackle – failing to have the desired impact at either end of the pitch.
Along with the aforementioned stats, Sarr also lost 100% of the aerial duels he entered, unable to stop the visitors from claiming all three points at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.
After such a showing, Postecoglou simply must drop him ahead of today’s clash, handing a rare start to one player in his preferred position after featuring elsewhere in 2024/25.
The player who Ange needs to start against Liverpool today
With the Europa League game certainly Spurs’ main focus for the remainder of the campaign, Ange needs to rotate his side to maintain fresh legs throughout the squad.
Injuries have already hampered the side in key moments of the season, especially in defence with the likes of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven both spending extended spells on the sidelines.
Such spells have undoubtedly contributed to their lowly league standing in 2024/25, with various players having to stand in at the back temporarily throughout the season.
Archie Gray is just one player to operate at the heart of the defence, doing so excellently given his tender age of 19 – deserving of an opportunity to operate in his familiar position.
The youngster, who’s been labelled “sensational” by one analyst, has started 14 games in the league since his move in the summer, the vast majority of which have been at the back.
When delving into his stats from the league, he’s managed to star despite the unfamiliar role, with Ange needing to rotate his pack and offering the teenager needed minutes in his natural position to continue his development.
Gray has completed 91% of the passes he’s attempted to date, completing an average of 59 passes per 90 – having the tools to succeed in such a role based upon those figures.
Games played
23
Games started
14
Passes completed
91%
Passes per game
59
Tackles won
50%
Dribbles completed
50%
Recoveries made
3.8
He’s also completed 50% of the dribbles he’s attempted, whilst also winning 50% of the tackles he’s entered – potentially being the perfect box-to-box option in the Aussie’s system in North London.
Even though today’s clash is one of little importance to Spurs given their league position, they will want to gain some momentum ahead of the crunch Europa League meeting.
If they are to stand any chance of doing that, Gray needs to be handed a rare start, handing him the opportunity to showcase his talents ahead of the vital clash for the Aussie’s future at the club.
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Celtic forward Daizen Maeda continued his sensational season with yet another goal in the club’s 5-1 win over Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership last weekend.
The Hoops romped to a comfortable victory in front of their home support to bounce back from their disappointing 1-0 defeat away to St. Johnstone in their previous outing in the top-flight.
A close-range strike from Maeda, as well as some stunning goals from Reo Hatate and Cameron Carter-Vickers, helped the Scottish giants on their way to all three points.
Brendan Rodgers’ Japanese marksman has been in phenomenal form in front of goal throughout the 2024/25 campaign, notching his 31st goal of the season against Kilmarnock.
Daizen Maeda
The experienced forward has scored 31 goals and provided nine assists in 45 appearances in all competitions for the Hoops so far this term, which shows that he has provided a regular threat in front of goal as both a scorer and a creator for Celtic.
Rodgers needed him, and others, to step up at the top end of the pitch after the club sanctioned the sale of proven goalscorer Kyogo Furuhashi in the January transfer window.
How much Rennes paid for Kyogo Furuhashi
Shortly after Celtic’s 1-0 win over Young Boys in the Champions League, there was talk about a possible move to France for the Japanese forward before the deadline.
Six days on from that victory, which turned out to be the striker’s last appearance for the club, Rennes officially completed the signing of Kyogo for a reported fee of £10m.
Deciding to move on from the Japan international midway through the campaign was a gamble by the Scottish giants, given the quality that he had provided over the years in Glasgow.
Kyogo joined the club from Vissel Kobe on a permanent transfer in the summer of 2021 under the management of Ange Postecoglou, and hit the ground running with 20 goals in all competitions in the 2021/22 campaign.
Kyogo Furuhashi’s Celtic career (all competitions)
Season
Appearances
Goals
Assists
24/25
32
12
4
23/24
50
19
5
22/23
50
34
5
21/22
33
20
5
Stats via Transfermarkt
As you can see in the table above, the Japanese centre-forward was a consistent goal threat for the Scottish giants throughout his time in Glasgow, scoring at least 12 goals in all four of his seasons at Parkhead.
His best year in a Hoops jersey was, as is obvious by looking at the table, the 2022/23 campaign as he plundered a staggering 34 goals in all competitions for Celtic.
His form in front of goal over those seasons eventually allowed the club to rake in £10m for his services in the January transfer window, but he is not the most expensive striker sold by the Hoops in the past decade.
How much Celtic paid for Odsonne Edouard
In the summer of 2018, Celtic decided to splash the cash on a new centre-forward to bring Odsonne Edouard from Paris Saint-Germain to Paradise in a club-record £9m transfer.
The French marksman had spent the 2017/18 season on loan in Glasgow, scoring 11 goals in 28 matches, and that convinced the board to sign the attacker on a permanent deal in a record transfer ahead of the following campaign.
Edouard followed that up with a return of 22 goals and eight assists in 52 matches in all competitions during the 2018/19 season, including 15 goals in the Premiership – as shown in the highlights above.
The former PSG starlet went on to be a reliable threat at the top end of the pitch for the Scottish giants for several years, racking up 87 goals and 37 assists in 179 outings for the club in all competitions.
These statistics show that Celtic hit the jackpot by splashing out a club-record fee to sign him on a permanent deal because he went on to become a prolific scorer for the Hoops in his three seasons in Glasgow as a permanent player.
The Hoops then went on to strike gold on the centre-forward by making a significant profit on the attacker when they sold him to Premier League side Crystal Palace ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.
How Celtic hit the jackpot with Odsonne Edouard
The English side swooped for his services in the summer of 2021, as they looked to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch, and they agreed a reported deal worth up to £18.5m.
Market Movers
Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?
Eagles chairman Steve Parish described Edouard as a striker with “proven quality”, based on his time with Celtic, and that is why Palace were willing to commit a huge sum of money to sign him.
The French centre-forward’s value, therefore, soared by a whopping £9.5m during his spell with the Hoops, from the £9m that they initially paid for him, and that shows that they hit the jackpot with him.
Odsonne-EdouardOdsonne-Edouard
Edouard was also sold for £8.5m more than Kyogo was in January, despite his impressive goal return for the Bhoys, which speaks to how well the club did to rake in that fee from Palace.
Celtic also hit gold with the sale of the Frenchman because he has only scored 21 goals in all competitions in his four years in England to date, with all 21 of those coming for Palace and none in his current loan spell with Leicester City.
Odsonne Edouard’s market value since leaving Celtic
Date
Market value
August 2021
£18.5m reported fee
December 2021
£14.6m
September 2022
£12.8m
November 2022
£14.6m
October 2023
£17.2m
May 2024
£15.4m
December 2024
£12m
March 2025
£8.5m
Valuations via Transfermarkt
As you can see in the table above, his market value has plummeted from £18.5m to £8.5m in the last four years as a result of his lack of goals for Palace and Leicester since his move away from Parkhead.
This suggests that the Scottish giants played a blinder by cashing in on him in the summer of 2021 because he has regressed since leaving Glasgow and is now worth even less than the initial £9m that the Hoops paid to sign him from PSG.
Celtic chasing deal for star who could become even better than Jota
Celtic are reportedly interested in a deal to sign the impressive young forward.
Sam Curran recall on the cards as lack of fourth seamer leaves spinning options exposed in ODIs
Matt Roller05-Sep-2025From the moment that Matthew Breetzke shimmied outside leg and launched Jacob Bethell over extra cover for six, it was clear that England had a major problem at Lord’s. They have persisted with an unbalanced side throughout Harry Brook’s short tenure as ODI captain and this was the day that it truly came back to bite them.England got away with picking only four frontline bowlers in Brook’s first series as captain, but that was against a poor West Indies side who failed to qualify for the last World Cup. South Africa were cold and clinical at Lord’s: Breetzke, Tristan Stubbs and Dewald Brevis seized their chance to take Bethell and Will Jacks down, knowing that Brook was running out of resources.In fact, South Africa might have done England a favour: in taking 112 runs from the 10 overs split by Bethell and Jacks, they proved that their selections were fundamentally flawed. It is not a slight on either individual player to say that they are being asked to do a job they are not cut out for: Jacks’ economy rate across five ODIs this year is 8.80, and Bethell’s is 9.06.”With our batting line-up, this is what we set up for: we want to try and chase them big scores,” Brook told the BBC. “That’s why we set the team up as it is: to get within one blow of that score today was a very good effort.” His logic was circular, ignoring the fact that Bethell and Jacks had conceded so many runs that their combined contribution of 97 off 73 still wasn’t enough.Related
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England clearly like the buffer of a frontline batter at No. 7: “Imagine having us five-down and Will Jacks comes out to bat?” Brook said earlier this summer, and he saw Jacks’ 49 – in a 143-run partnership with Joe Root – in a tight win over West Indies in Cardiff as vindication. The trouble is that the runs he has scored have been outweighed by those he has conceded.It was a calculated takedown from South Africa at Lord’s, recognising that they could afford to play out Adil Rashid (2 for 33) and cash in elsewhere. “He was bowling really well and the conditions suited him,” Breetzke said. “We just had to sort of suck it up and see what we could get from him – and then, from the other guys, look to score a little bit more freely.”Balance has been an issue that has stalked England’s ODI team ever since they lifted the World Cup six years ago. In the 2015-19 cycle, Ben Stokes played in 71 of their 99 ODIs and bowled an average of 5.1 overs per match; in the 2019-23 cycle, he played in 19 out of 51 and bowled 1.4 overs per match. His international white-ball career now appears to be over.With Moeen Ali retired, England’s lack of a genuine allrounder has been costly. At the Champions Trophy, they used a combination of Liam Livingstone and Root as their ‘fifth’ bowler, with combined returns of 3 for 172 from 26.1 overs; now, they are relying on a pair of spinners who are even more raw in Bethell and Jacks. Curiously, Root remains unused under Brook, even after an India Test summer in which he bowled more overs in a home series (57.1) than ever before.After a miserable run in 50-over cricket since the last World Cup – they have won just seven of their 22 ODIs in that time – England’s focus is on the next one. It is abundantly clear that 10 overs of occasional fingerspin is not going to cut it in many conditions, but especially not on early-season pitches in South Africa in October-November 2027.Sam Curran was a central figure in Oval Invincibles’ Hundred title last month•Getty ImagesIf there is a solution – and the nature of international sport is that there may simply not be a satisfactory one – then it must involve a seam-bowling allrounder who can bat in the top seven. England have attempted to mould Jamie Overton into that player this year, but it is obvious that Sam Curran is the best option that they have available to them.Curran’s ongoing absence from England’s teams is not a complete mystery: after his starring role at the 2022 T20 World Cup, he had two quiet years in international cricket in which he struggled to make an impact with the ball. But he has thrived at franchise level this year, particularly with the bat, and deserves another England opportunity in New Zealand next month.The suspicion remains that Brendon McCullum simply does not rate him. Curran has not been selected by England in any format with McCullum as coach, and sought assurances from him earlier this year amid concerns that he does not “fit the mould” of what England are looking for. He was told that his route back in is simple: “It’s just performing, with bat and ball,” Curran said.Balance is not the only reason that England find themselves 2-0 down in this series, leaving them with eight defeats in 11 ODIs this year. Their core of multi-format players look burned out after a gruelling summer – not least Ben Duckett, whose 14 from 33 balls at Lord’s continued a desperate downturn since his stand-out performances in the India Tests. Their highest individual score is 61, and their bowlers have not taken a wicket in the first 10 overs.But it is emblematic of a wider issue, as was Brook’s response, after England’s thrashing at Headingley on Tuesday, that boiled his desired style of play down to: “Go out there and bang it.” England are attempting to replicate the style of Eoin Morgan’s ODI team, but without any substance to back it up.